Nehemiah 13:17
New International Version
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day?

New Living Translation
So I confronted the nobles of Judah. “Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?” I asked.

English Standard Version
Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

Berean Standard Bible
Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

King James Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

New King James Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?

New American Standard Bible
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, by profaning the Sabbath day?

NASB 1995
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?

NASB 1977
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, even profaning the sabbath day?

Amplified Bible
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Christian Standard Bible
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

American Standard Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Contemporary English Version
I got angry and said to the leaders of Judah, "This evil you are doing is an insult to the Sabbath!

English Revised Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and asked them, "What is this evil thing you're doing? How dare you treat the day of worship as unholy!

Good News Translation
I reprimanded the Jewish leaders and told them, "Look at the evil you're doing! You're making the Sabbath unholy.

International Standard Version
I rebuked the officials of Judah, saying to them, "What's this evil thing that you're doing by profaning the Sabbath day?

Majority Standard Bible
Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, ?What is this evil you are doing?profaning the Sabbath day?

NET Bible
So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

New Heart English Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

World English Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I strive with the nobles of Judah, and say to them, “What [is] this evil thing that you are doing, and defiling the Sabbath day?

Young's Literal Translation
And I strive with the freemen of Judah, and say to them, 'What is this evil thing that ye are doing, and polluting the sabbath-day?

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall contend with the nobles of Judah, and say to them, What this evil word that ye are doing, and profaning the day of the Sabbath?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I rebuked the chief men of Juda, and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I put the nobles of Judah under oath, and I said to them: “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

New American Bible
I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, demanding: “What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?

New Revised Standard Version
Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then I contended with the chiefs of Judah and said to them, Why are you doing this evil thing and profaning the sabbath day?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I judged with the Leaders of Yehuda and I said to them: “Why are you doing this evil and violating the Sabbath day?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them: 'What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I strove with the free children of Juda, and said to them, What is this evil thing which ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sabbath Restored
16Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. 17Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day? 18Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”…

Cross References
Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...

Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 17:21-27
This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. / You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers. / Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline. ...

Ezekiel 20:12-24
I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. / Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness. / But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. ...

Leviticus 19:30
You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...

Amos 8:4-6
Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

Matthew 12:1-8
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. / When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ...

Mark 2:23-28
One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. / So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ...

Luke 6:1-5
One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them. / But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ...

John 5:16-18
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him. / But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.” / Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

Acts 13:42-44
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath. / After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. / On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Romans 14:5-6
One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. / He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. / Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.


Treasury of Scripture

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day?

I contended.

Nehemiah 13:11,25
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place…

Nehemiah 5:7
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

Psalm 82:1,2
A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods…

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Chiefs Contended Desecrating Evil Freemen Judah Keeping Nobles Polluting Profane Profaning Protests Rebuked Remonstrated Reprimanded Sabbath Sabbath-Day Strive Wicked
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Chiefs Contended Desecrating Evil Freemen Judah Keeping Nobles Polluting Profane Profaning Protests Rebuked Remonstrated Reprimanded Sabbath Sabbath-Day Strive Wicked
Nehemiah 13
1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.
4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.
10. He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15. the violation of the Sabbath;
23. and the marriages with the strange wives.














Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah
The phrase "Then I rebuked" indicates a direct and authoritative confrontation. The Hebrew root for "rebuked" is "גָּעַר" (ga'ar), which conveys a strong reprimand or correction. Nehemiah, as a leader, takes a firm stand against the actions of the nobles. The "nobles of Judah" were the influential leaders and decision-makers of the community. Historically, these were individuals who held significant sway over the people, and their actions set a precedent. Nehemiah's rebuke underscores the importance of accountability, especially among those in leadership, and highlights the necessity of upholding God's commandments.

and asked, 'What is this wicked thing you are doing
The phrase "What is this wicked thing" reflects Nehemiah's moral and spiritual outrage. The Hebrew word for "wicked" is "רָע" (ra), which denotes something evil or morally wrong. Nehemiah's question is rhetorical, emphasizing the gravity of their actions. By asking this, Nehemiah is not seeking information but is instead calling attention to the severity of their sin. This phrase serves as a reminder of the importance of self-examination and the need to align one's actions with God's will.

profaning the Sabbath day?
The term "profaning" comes from the Hebrew "חָלַל" (chalal), meaning to defile or desecrate something holy. The "Sabbath day" was a sacred institution established by God as a day of rest and worship, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11. Historically, the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day set apart for spiritual reflection and community worship. By profaning the Sabbath, the nobles were not only breaking a commandment but also undermining the spiritual identity and covenant relationship of the people with God. Nehemiah's concern reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and the call for God's people to live distinctively in obedience to His commands. This serves as an inspirational reminder of the importance of honoring God's designated times and maintaining the sanctity of worship in our lives.

(17) That ye do.--The nobles, in the absence of Nehemiah, had been responsible, and the sin is charged upon them. The appeal supposes their familiarity with the express prediction of Jeremiah and its literal fulfilment (Jeremiah 17:27).

Verse 17. - Then I contended with the nobles. In the desecration of the sabbath, as in the non-payment of tithes, the nobles were the chief offenders, being at once luxurious and latitudinarian. They desired the freshest food for their feasts, and encouraged both foreigners and natives to break the law for the gratification of their carnal appetites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I rebuked
וָאָרִ֕יבָה (wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

the nobles
חֹרֵ֣י (ḥō·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2715: White, pure, noble

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֑ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

and asked,
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מָֽה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

is this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

evil
הָרָ֤ע (hā·rā‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

you
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are doing—
עֹשִׂ֔ים (‘ō·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

profaning
וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים (ū·mə·ḥal·lə·lîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

the Sabbath
הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

day?
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT History: Nehemiah 13:17 Then I contended with the nobles (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 13:16
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